Latest Area News Headlines

WORTHINGTON – The Worthington City Council Thursday morning approved a ballot question for the November election that would ask citizens to okay the transfer of the old pool site from the city to Nobles County for use as a new library site. The land was gifted to the city by the E.O Olson Trust.

Because of city charter restrictions, any use of the land other than for park use must go to a public vote.

The property transfer would include the existing fish rearing ponds because of impervious surface restrictions, but the ponds would still be protected.

LAKEFIELD - Pleasantview Elementary in Lakefield and the schools in Lakefield, Heron Lake and Okabena were awarded federal grants for the Safe Routes to School program.
Pleasantview Elementary received a 2015 Infrastructure grant for a path connect and improve crossing from the south neighborhood to Pleasantview Elementary.

The schools in Lakefield, Heron Lake and Okabena received a Planning Grant to help analyze existing conditions, gather public input and identify potential solutions at K-8 schools.

FULDA – On a red flag fire warning day, the Fulda Fire Department was called at approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday to a blaze inside the St. Gabriel Catholic Church. The fire appeared to have started in a corner room of the church known as the flower room.

Fulda Police Chief Paul Kenney said reports indicated the fire was mostly contained to that corner room, although a wall shared between the room and that of the main church may have been bowed or compromised because of the heat.

While there was no official indication of the cause of the fire, one parishioner said a light in the...

JACKSON – In Jackson County, a one-vehicle rollover in the early morning hours resulted in non-life threatening injuries for a Sioux Rapids, Iowa man. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Neil Lewallen, age 27, was southbound on Highway 86 Wednesday morning, two miles north of the Minnesota-Iowa border, when he lost control of his 2006 Chevy Cobalt and rolled into the ditch. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Dickinson County Ambulance responded.

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa - Some work in the right-of-way along Highway 9 between Spirit Lake and Estherville is scheduled to begin this...

OCHEYEDAN, Iowa – A report of a missing person Tuesday resulted in the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office finding the body of 48-year-old John Michael Dirks in a ditch along Highway 9 in the Ocheyedan area.

Assisting in the search was Ocheyedan Fire and Rescue, Osceola County Emergency Management, Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

WORTHINGTON – The Nobles County Commissioners Tuesday approved a tax abatement agreement between the county and Ferrera Candy Company, which states that for a period of three years, property taxes assessed to the company will be refunded after proof that certain conditions are met.

According to the agreement, AGCO will utilize the vacant building in Round Lake, immediately creating 20 new full-time jobs and adding at least 30 new full-time jobs within the first 12 months of the signing of the document. The 20 new jobs created at first must have a starting wage of no less than $12...

WORTHINGTON – Worthington’s Water and Light Commission on Monday approved a $250,000 allocation to help Pheasants Forever purchase a parcel of land that is located within the wellhead protection area. The total cost of the land is $850,000, which will come from various sources.

More than half of the parcel is considered vulnerable, according to WPU Manager Scott Hain. Two gravel pits will be filled in by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Hain also confirmed to the board that that the non-essential water ban put in place last fall is still in effect. There has...

WORTHINGTON – e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education has announced Minnesota West Community & Technical College placed fourth in the Digital Community College Survey, the only Minnesota college to be in the winning results for the ninth annual Digital Community Colleges Survey.

Community colleges are being recognized for their innovative uses of technology to achieve first-rate student learning environments.

“Community colleges across the country are employing technology in exciting ways to develop unique learning environments on campus and to expand online learning...

JACKSON – Judge Linda Titus will retire April 11 after being appointed to her position in Jackson County District Court in March of 1990 by Gov. Rudy Perpich. Titus was the first female judge in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District.

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa - An animal rights group is asking federal officials to investigate a local pork producer.

LAKEFIELD – Hussong Manufacturing, based in Lakefield, is recalling approximately 16,000 gas fireplaces and fireplace inserts due to an explosion hazard.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the main control module on the units can allow gas to be released and build up in the burner area, posing an explosion hazard. The company has received nine reports of gas being released prematurely and exploding, causing minor property damage and two reports of abrasions.

The recall affects 22 models, sold under the name Kozy Heat Fireplaces, Ambiance Fireplaces and...